Can opener



Deb. 16, 1952 Q GUTEKUNST 2,621,402

CAN OPENER I Filed Jane 25, 1950 2 SPEETS Si-IEET 1 /r I A z/ J F/g.5

6 m CARL GUTEKUNST IN V EN TOR.

AT TORNE Y5 Dec. 16, 1952 c. GUTEKUNST CAN OPENER I Filed June 26, 1950 2 Sl-EETS-SHEET 2 I r I I I, MP 7U 91! 9 'n,

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A TTORNEXS Patented Dec. 16, 1952 CAN OPENER Carl Gutekuns t, Asbury Park, N. 3., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Frank Poppolardo,

Newark, N. J.

Application June 26, 1950, Serial No. 170,311

ll Claims.

This invention relates to a device for opening cans and more particularly cans which contain fluid beverages and which for opening require a pouring puncture and an additional venting puncture. With greater particularity this invention relates to a device for simultaneously opening and venting cans, such as cans of fruit juice or beer. This application is a continuationin-part of my copending application S. N. 12,539, filed March 2, 1948, now abandoned.

With the increasing use of scaled metal cans for beverages such as vegetable juices, fruit juices, beer and the like, there have been put on the market various types of manually operated can openers which conveniently comprise an arm or lever and a cutting blade adapted to puncture the top of the can, preferably with a V-shaped hole. While some of these devices are reasonably satisfactory, it has been found that in order to facilitate the pouring of the contents of a can, particularly where the fluid contents of the can are carbonated and under superatmospheric pressure, or where the fluid has been scaled under gaseous pressure, the pouring of the fluid contents becomes somewhat of a peculiar skill unless an additional vent hole is alsopunched in the top of the can. With the conventional hand operated can punchers it is necessary to hold the can in one hand, or to hold it firmly on a table top or supporting surface with one hand, and perform two separate operations, first the puncturing of the pouring hole and, second, the puncturing of a vent hole. The inconvenience of such an operation is not of first magnitude in private homes wh re only a few cans are punched at any one time; however, at drug counters, luncheon counters or beer parlors, where fruit juices or other beverages are in constant demand, the manipulation of a hand punch of the conventional type becomes time consuming and an economic waste.

My invention has for one of its objects the provision of a can punch which may be fixed to any suitable support, such as the bottom of a counter, thereby leaving one hand of the operator free, and which will permit the substantially simultaneous puncturing of the can to provide a pouring orifice and a venting orifice in the can top with a single simple motion. My invention has for a further object the provision of, and arrangement of, cutting surfaces which will permit the opening and venting of a can which contains carbonated beverages without undue agitation ofthe contents of the can and without the explosive release of foam which so fregucntly accompanies the opening of cans of such fluids. A further object of my invention is the construction of a sturdy device of the character described which may be readily fabricated of but two pieces of stock and which is readily adapted to stamping and mass production. A further object of my invention is the provision of a device which will permit a, vendor, or counter-attendant, to grasp a can in each hand and open each can with a simple, single motion of each hand, thereby more than halving the time necessary to open and vent a pair of cans as compared with the present cumbersome technique. Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description thereof.

The foregoing objects were accomplished by the invention described and claimed in my copending application S. N. 12,639, filed March 2, 1948, which was for an embodiment of my invention directed toward the simultaneous opening and venting of cans of fluid by a device adapted to be attached to the underside of a table or bar or the like. The principles of the invention described in this earlier application may also be incorporated in a device for simultaneously opening and venting cans of fluid wherein the can opener is manually operated; In a manner analogous to the original embodiment of my invention, the present improvement may be made from but two pieces of metal stock, one of which has a prolongation adapted to be mounted in a conventional handle so that the device may easily be grasped by the hand. One of the objects of the improved modification of my invention is that of the provision of an instrument which may be operated with but one hand while using the other hand for firmly grasping the can to be opened and wherein the pouring and venting punctures are made almost simultaneously in the end of the can in practically the same-manner as that employed in the earlier modification.

A type .of prior art can opener which has met with widespread public acceptance is illustrated in U. S. Patent 1,996,550. This type of can opener requires that the can of beverage be very firmly grasped in the hand, or held against a flat surface such as a table, by a firm grasp; the knife of the can opener is then placed over the to'p'of the can in which position it roughly parallel to the top surface of the can and in which position the handle of the can opener is depressed, by a considerable angle, below the horizontal plane represented by the can "top. The puncture made is generally a triangular shaped puncture. To make such a puncture, it is necessaryto elevate the can opener handle through an are considerably greater than 90 until the handle is almost perpendicular to the top surface of the can. During at least the initial part of this path of travel of the handle of the can opener, it must be lifted by one hand while using the other hand to exert sufiicient downward pressure to hold the can in place.

As contrasted with the foregoing type of can opener the present invention, either modification thereof, permits the can to be opened by the formation of a triangular shaped puncture with the angle between the unpunctured can top and the can opener base being always less than 90 throughout a complete cycle of can puncturing and venting. Another feature flowing directly from the combination of the shape of the primary uncturing knife and its associated gripping hook is that during a large part of the arc, traversed by moving the can top and the can punch relative to each other, the aperture initially formed by the puncturing knife is completely filled by the knife blade itself. This aids in sealing the gaseous contents of the can under their super-atmospheric pressure and prevents the geysering or foaming of the con tents of the can during the period that the initial small puncture is being formed. Because of the curved shape of the puncturing knife, its entrance into the top of the can surface is from a direction perpendicular thereto even during the initial portions of the cycle of can opening and an aperture of considerable size is formed before any part of the aperture is exposed to the influences of the gas pressure differential between the outside atmosphere and the interior contents of the can. Again, due to the curved form of the puncturing knife, after such an aperture of appreciable size has been formed, further movement of the can top and can punch relative to each other moves the puncturing knife rapidly outwardly toward the can rim and produces an outwardly flaring, essentially triangular, pouring puncture.

With reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of my can punch showing its preferred installation on a supporting surface;

Figure 2 is an end view of my can punch taken from the fiuid pouring orifice end;

Figure 3 is an end view taken from the venting orifice end;

Figure 4. is a bottom view, partially in perspective, of the complete device;

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the can bead hook or grip;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatical view showing the mode of operation while puncturing and venting a can;

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of a further modification in my invention and is one which is adapted for manual use as distinct from attach- ;nent to a piece of furniture for fixed installa- Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an end elevation as viewed from the end which is at the right end of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of so much of the structure as appears to the right of the line I l-l I of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is an end elevation partly in cross section as viewed from the position H-H of Figure '7;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the sucof the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and commencing with Figure 1 thereof, S represents a support which may be a shelf, counter-top or bar, to the underside of which I afiix my can opener, generally referred to as I. One of the two elements of my can opener is a base plate 2 which desirably may be a rectangular sheet of metal having side edges 3, 3, ends 4 and 5, a generally fiat top 6, and a, generally flat bottom 8. By generally, I wish to be understood as meaning for the most part, since certain of the elements of my device may lie out of the generally horizontal planes of the top surface 6 and bottom surface 3. At suitable points through the base plateZ, I provide a plurality of holes 9, adapted to receive screw heads so that my can opener may be more or less permanently attached to the support S by means of screws l0.

Preferably approximately midway between the side edges 3, 3 and adjacent to but a suitable distance removed from the end edge G, I provide a V-shaped or triangular orifice ll. esirably, this orifice may be formed by punching, through the base plate 2, a triangular increment, the base of the triangle being left intact, that is to say, is not cut away from the base plate 2. The V-shaped or triangular element formed by this punching operation is bent downwardly to a position approximately perpendicular to the bottom surface 8 of the base plate so as to form a downwardly extending cutting element or blade l2, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained. I also provide in the base plate 2 a groove or depression [3 the bottom of which ex tends below the bottom edge of the base plate 8 to a depth approximately the same in dimension as the thickness of the base plate. This groove or depression I3 preferably extends from the end edge 5 of the base plate and on both sides of the major axis of the base plate to a point close to but separated from the cutting blade l2. Desirably, this groove will be roughly rectangular in outline although the marginal edges i l will curve downwardly and inwardly, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, to give rounded edges.

A portion of the end edge 5 of the base plate is bent downwardly and shaped to form a cuttin blade 15. I prefer that the root of this blade be of a width substantially co-extensive with the width of the groove or depression I3 and that at its upper portion it extends downwardly from the base plate 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the base plate; that is, the upper portion of the cutter blade i5 will be roughly vertical for an appreciable distance so as to provide a bearing surface 15a, the purpose of which will be described hereafter. Below this bearing surface, I preferably form this cutter blade into a scythe-like element which, when viewed from the side, has a shape which is not an exact arc of a circle nor an exact crescent but which may be likened to both such figures. In profile, this knife resembles ahand sickle, having the conventional straight handle and attached curved blade. The side edges I6 of this cutter blade converge downwardly and inwardly and eventually terminate into a point I'I. Desirably, in order to provide a pair of leading cutting edges I bevel the side edges so the leading edges I6 are sharp and in outline. form a slightly wider figure than do the trailing edges 23.

The second element of my can opener is a metal strip I8 so shaped and proportioned as to permit it to be placed within the groove or depression I-3 and when so placed therein to have its top surface in substantially the same horizontal plane as the top surface 6 of the base plate 2. This metal strip is desirably somewhat longer than the length of the depression or groove I3 and a portion thereof is adapted to extend out and beyond the terminal edge 5 of the base plate 2. I bend this extension of the element I8 into a return bend, or U-bend, III, to form a downwardly disposed hook which terminates opposite and is adjacent to but not in contact with the vertical bearing surface lid of the cutter blade I5. I prefer to machine away a portion of the terminal end of this return bend to form an inclined surface 29 and a lower terminal edge 2!. The element Iil after being so formed and in place within the groove or depression I3 may be permanently affixed to the base plate 2 by riveting, spot welding or through the use of theraded screws as indicated at 22.

Turning now to the modification illustrated in Figures 7 to 11, inclusive, it will be noted that I have used reference numerals commencing with 100 as a prefix digit and have used a suffix digit, or digits, corresponding to the equivalent element in the modification illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings. As shown in Figures '7 and 8 of the drawings, I82 represents a bar or plate, one end of which, H8, is extended in a manner similar to plate I3 of the first modification. This end H8 is bent into a return bend or U-bend IIEi to form a downwardly disposed hook which terminates opposite and is adjacent to but not in contact with a vertical bearing surface H511 on the cutter blade H5. It is preferred to machine away a portion of the terminal end of this return bend IE9 to form an inclined surface I and a lower terminal, somewhat sharpened, edge I2I. At the end of plate I92 opposite M8, the metal is preferably given a slight upward bend as at I and thereafter extends for a sufficient length to form the base I21 of a handle. The handle may be surrounded by a pair, I28 and I29, of upper and lower guard members which may be wood, horn, plastic, or any suitable material. Coacting apertures are punched into the handle members I28, I 29 and the extension or base I22, to accommodate two or more rivets I39.

To provide a useful combination of elements which may be used for removing the crimped or crowned tops of beverage bottles, bar member I 32 be suitably crimped at 525 to provide an elevated stop. A suitable distance apposite stop I25, an upwardly extendin U-shaped member I32 may be formed as by striking out of the stock of which I92 is formed, a suitable strip of metal which is bent upwardly at ISI and then surmounted by a return bend I32 to leave at the outer extremity of I32 a gap I33 of a size which will accommodate the crimped edge of the bottle cap to be removed.

Mounted below bar member I02 and afiixed thereto as by means of rivets I22, I22, isa sheet or bar of flat metal stock I34, one end of which: H2 is bent downwardly and has its outer edges tapered to end into a cutting point. This element H2 is the venting knife blade. The opposite end of the bar I32 is bent downwardly to form initially a substantially vertical bearing surface lI50r and then is further bent into the form of a cutter blade having a scythe-like profile when viewed from the side. This is the pri-. marypuncturing blade for opening the can. This blade I I 5 has a shape which is not an exact arc of a circle nor an exact crescent but which may be likened to both such figures. The side edges I I6 Of, this cuter blade converge downwardly and inwardly and eventually terminate into a point II'I. Desirably, in order to, provide a pair of leading cutting edges, I bevel the side edges I It so that the leading edges are sharp and in outline form a slightly wider figure, than, do the trailing edges I23. This may be seen clearly from Figure 11 of the drawings.

It will be understood that the space between the bottom surface of I I8 and the sharpened edge I2I of the gripping member I I9 is wide enough to accommodate the bead of a conventional can. The space between the bearing edge H511 and the sharpened edge I2! of the U-shaped member I I8 is large enough to permit the edge of the can to be inserted notwithstanding any extension of the conventional can bead above the true top surface of the can itself. It will be understood that when the can is placed so that its head is embraced in the space between H8 and the sharpened edge I2I, the tip or sharpened point II! of the cutter blade H5 is substantially normal to the plane formed by the top of the can. Consequently, point I I1 is applied to the top of the can in a direction which forces the sharpened end of the point to penetrate directly into the can top and not tangentially or at any angle to the surface of the can, other than This permits the initial tiny puncture to be formed with a minimum of effort and thereafter as the handle of the device is pushed downwardly in a counter-clockwise fashion, the curved and diverging surfaces of puncturing knife H5 gradually tear a triangular pouring opening in the can top. During this entire operation the bead of the can is firmly gripped between point IZI and bearing surface NM. 1

It will be observed that but four pieces of stock supplemented by a plurality of conventional rivets are required to form the present modification of can opener. Two of the pieces of stock are the handle grips I28 and I29. Turning to Figure 10 of the drawings it will be noted that this figure illustrates the ease with which the bottle top opener grip may be formed out of the piece of stock I02. A rectangular piece of stock is out out on three of its sides to leave an aperture I35 and the cut-out tongue is rolled up to form the hook I32. A pair of apertures I35 may be punched out to accommodate the rivets I22 for attachment with bar lid. The punching operation necessary to form the hook I32 may be formed simultaneously with the formation of the bead I26 and the handle bend I25.

In order to understand the mode of use of that modification of my device which is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, reference may be made to Figure 6 of the drawings in which I have shown as C1, the initial position of a can t p, and I have shown as C2, the final position of the can top during a can opening operation. An operator, desiring to open a can, may grasp the can in one hand, holding it with the side walls of the can in an approximately horizontal position and with the top of the can directed toward the can punch IS. The can so held is then lifted until the can bead or rim B of the top of the can is nestled within the space between the vertical bearing edge [a of the cutter blade and the leading edge 2i of the U-bend [9. Not much pressure is required to hold the can in such a position but sufiicient force should be exerted so that the edge 2| is held in close contact with the side wall of the can and the bottom edge of the bead B at the junction thereof. At this initial stage, the leading edge 2 I, of what I prefer to call the gripping element l8, acts as a pivot point, being firmly in contact with the side wall of the can at its juncture with the bottom of the bead B while the pointed tip I! of the cutter blade (5 is in contact with the can top at a point somewhat removed from the bead B. The can at this time will be disposed in such a position that the can top is in a plane which deviates slightly from a vertical plane V-V as shown in Figure 6. From this point the can is twisted about the foregoing pivot point through an arc of nearly 90 and until the major axis of the can is substantially vertical. As this turning movement progresses, the point ll of the cutter blade 15 penetrates the can top at a point some distance away from the bead or can rim B and as the movement progresses a triangular orifice is punched in the can top, the base of which triangle is adjacent the bead B. As the can top approaches the bottom of the second cutter blade I2, a second and venting orifice is punched in the can top. Reversal of the direction' of movement of the can permits it to be quickly disengaged after again assuming the position C1 as shown in Figure 6 of the drawing and the contents of the can may now be quickly and and easily poured. In establishments which dispense fruit juices and beverages in large quantities a counterman or bartender can grasp a can in each hand and by performing the foregoing manipulative steps, first on one can and then on the other, open two cans in a fraction of the time required to open a single can and vent it with the conventional manual can punchers. In order to understand the mode of use of the modification of my device as illustrated in Figures '7 to 11 of the drawings, reference may also be made to Figure 6 of the drawings. For such purpose, however, the view shown in Figure 6 (which is prepared with the can opener shown as toward the top of the figure and with the can C1 to be opened shown as to the right side of the figure) should be turned clockwise 90 so that the can opener appears at the right side of the figure and the can to he opened appears at the bottom of the figure. This is the position assumed by the can opener illustrated in Figures '7 to 11, when used manually. The description of the mode of operation as applied to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings and as illustrated in Figure 6 is identical in the present instance except that the can is held stationary with its bottom on any supporting surface, or held in one hand, and the can opener is pivoted counter-clockwise, toward the left, through an are which is less than 90.

The cooperation between the novel shape and disposition of the puncturing knife (5 (H5) and the hook 153 (I 19) produce unexpected and beneficial results in the can puncturing operation. These results may be more easily understood if explained with reference to Figures 12 through 16 of the drawings.

There is a close relationship between the angle between the can top and the general plane in which the can punch lies, with respect to the size and formation of the pouring aperture during the relative movement of the two objects toward each other. This will be seen from Figure 12 wherein a line BV represents a plane of the top of a can to be opened while the line AH represents a major horizontal plane within which the base of the can puncher lies. (It will be understood that when the letters A-H and B-V are read from their normal position, Figure 12 may be construed as corresponding to Figure 6 of the drawings, while if Figure 12 is turned at an angle of 90, the corresponding lines may be read A(V) and B(I-I), respectively, for an understanding of the modification of can opener shown in Figures 7 to 11 of the drawings.) When the top of the can to be opened assumes the position corresponding to the line BV the only part of the can in contact with the can opener is the beaded edge about to be gripped between the gripping hook and the bearing surface lEa of the can knife. At this point the angle be tween BV and A-H (or more accurately 3-2 which latter line is parallel with A-H) is 90. As the can top is moved toward the knife, it reaches the position I where the sharpened tip of the knife 15 is merely touching, but not penetrating, the can top; the point of the knife at this position is perpendicular to the can top. The angle between A-H and BI is in the order of At this position, represented by I, the top surface of the can, if viewed from above, would show no puncture. As the can top is moved to the position represented by BII, the point of the knife [5 penetrates the top and forms a small triangular shaped aperture which is completely filled with the knife itself, as seen from Figure 13 of the drawings. The angle between line 3-H and AI-I is approximately 65.

As the can top is moved to the position represented by the line BIII, the knife I 5 continues to form a larger triangular-shaped aperture, initially completely filled by the lower portion of the knife itself, and then the knife suddenly opens up in its rear a relatively large triangular aperture as represented in Figure 14 of the drawings. The angle between the lines BIII and AI-I is approximately 45. As the can top is then progressively moved to the position shown in BIV, it approaches the point of the secondary or venting knife I 2. The position BIV is one at which the top surface of the can is merely touched by and not penetrated by the tip of the venting knife [2. When this position is reached the relative size and opening of the primary pouring puncture is illustrated in Figure 15 of the drawings and the angle between the line V-IV and the line A-I-I is approximately 10. It will be noted that in this position, where the can top approaches parallelism with the line AH the tip of the secondary or venting knife 12 is almost perpendicular to the can top.

Further movement of the can top to the position represented by 3-1 brings the can top into virtual parallelism with the line AH so the angular difference between these two lines is substantially 0". During this short distance of travel (about 10) the point of the secondary venting knife [2 penetrates the can top, which it does easily since the forces necessary to puncture the can top are being applied substantially perpendicularly to the can top, but the opening formed by the venting knife is completely filled by the knife itself. When the stage B-X is reached'the relative sizes and positions of'the primary puncture, or pouring puncture, and the venting puncture are shown in Figure 16. From the foregoing illustration, it will be evident that during the sequential steps necessary to form the pouring puncture and the venting puncture, during an appreciable period in the formation of both punctures, the two knives which form the punctures are each applied from directions which are substantially perpendicular to the-can top. Thus the punctures are produced by the application of a minimum amount of force. Moreover, the force necessary to maintain the can opener and the can top in their relative sequential positions are always opposed and not, as in the prior art structures, initially cumulative 'andthen opposed. It also will be observed that the relative 'movement of the can top,- with respect to the base of the can opener, from the point of initial contact of the primary blade to the point of complete puncture, both pouring and venting, is less than 90.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have designed in the modification illustrated in Figures 1 to of the drawings, a can punch which may readily be fabricated by mass production methods since the base plate, the cutter blade I2, 1

the groove 53 and the shaping of the outlines of the cutter blade I 5 may all be formed in a single SJamping operation from a single piece-of stock while the gripping bar 1'3 may likewise be formed in a single operation leaving it only necessary to sharpen the edges of the cutter blades I2 and i5 and spot weld or rivet thegripping bar [8 in place in the groove I3 as final operations. While tests have indicated that the portion of the metal strip is which is disposed within the groove I3 need occupy a groove no longer than approximately half of the length of the base plate 2, it is of course possible and may be desirable in some instances to have the groove I3 extend more or less along the entire centerline of the entire base plate.

It will also be seen from the foregoing that the modification illustrated in Figures 7 to ll of the drawings likewise comprises a can punch which may readily be fabricated by mass production methods. A base plate 13 which terminates at one end with the vending blade or cutter blade H2 and which terminates at the other end with the cutter blade i 55 may all be formed in a single stamping operation from a single piece of stock.

The member I02 which has at one end the gripping bar 1 I 3 and at the other end the handle extension !21 likewise may be formed in a single operation. This statement contemplates the forming of the elbow I25, the crimped rib or stop 26 and the gripping hook I32. The only additional steps necessary to perform on these metallic elements would be the drilling of the necessary apertures for riveting together the bars IE2 and I34 and the handles I28 and I29 0n th handle element and the operation necessary to sharpen the edges and point of cutter blade H5. The final operation would be the assembly which would be simple riveting of the four elements required to make the complete device.

I prefer that either modification of my device may be made from mild steel and that it be covered with a suitable corrosive resistant metal plating. Thus, it may be galvanized or tin-plated "10 or chromium-plated. I prefer that the cutter blades I2 and I5 of the first modification (Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings) be formed from portions of the base plate 12 and therefore integral therewith, but it would be within th contemplation of my invention to have either or both of these cutter blades separately fabricated and affixed to the base plate by welding or in any other suitable manner. In the modification illustrated in Figures '7 to 11 of the drawings I prefer to use rivets as shown at I22 but it is within the contemplation of my invention to attach plates I02 to Iii i by welding, bolting or in any other suitable manner. Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim: 1. A can opening device for canned beverages,

comprising a bar member one end of which terminates in a downwardly depending, inwardly turned hookmember, a downwardly depending cutter blade, fixedly'disposed opposite and spaced from said hook member, said cutter blade having a sickle-shaped profile the upper portionof which is substantially perpendicular to said her member, thereby providing a vertical bearing surface and, in association with said hook member, providing an aperture for pivotally embracing a can bead, and the lower portion of which is downwardly and outwardly curved,.said cutter blade having sharpened, downwardly-converging side edges, and terminating in a sharpened point, the said sharpened point being directed outwardly, substantially tangent to a plane which is parallel to said bar member, and in alignment with and beneath the said aperture for pivotally embracing the can bead.

2. In a can opening device, a relatively elongated bar member one end of which terminates in a downwardly disposed return U-bend, a sickle-shaped primary cutting knife spaced from the lower end of said U-bend, the upper portion of said primary knife bein disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to said bar member and the lower portion of said primary knife being curved downwardly and outwardly and terminating in a sharpened point which lies beneath said perpendicular first portion of said knife the said sharpened point being directed outwardly and substantially tangent to a plane which is parallel to said bar member.

3. The device defined in claim 2 wherein said primary knife forms one end of a base member which is affixed to the said bar member.

4. The device defined in claim 3 wherein a secondary cutting knife depends below said base member remote from said primary knife.

5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said secondary knife forms the end of said base member remote from said primary knife end thereof.

6. A container punch comprising a base plate adapted to be ailixed to a supporting surface, said base plate being roughly rectangular in shape and having a groove therein, said groove having its major axis substantially coincidental with the major axis of the base plate and extendin along said major axis from one end of said base plate to a point at least centrally of said base plate, and providing a recess for accommodating a can head gripping element one end of which extends beyond the corresponding end of said base plate, a downwardly depending outwardly curved primary cutter blade attached to said base plate at the end adjacent said can bead gripping element, and a second cutter blade attached to said base plate adjacent the opposite end of said base plate.

7. A can opening device for canned beverages, comprising a fixed horizontally disposed base plate, a downwardly depending, inwardly turned hook member adapted to embrace a can rim bead, and disposed at one end of said base plate, a downwardly depending cutter blade disposed opposite said hook member yet spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent the same end of said plate, said cutter blade comprising an upper, substantially vertical bearin portion and a lower arcuate cutter portion, the sides of said cutter portion converging downwardly and terminating in a sharpened point, the said sharpened point of said cutter portion being directed outwardly and substantially tangent to a horizontal plane which is parallel with said base plate.

8. A can opening device for canned beverages, comprising a fixed horizontally disposed base plate, a downwardly depending, inwardly turned hook member adapted to embrace a can rim bead, and disposed at one end of said base plate, a downwardly depending cutter blade disposed opposite said hook member yet spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent the same end of said plate,

said cutter blade comprising an upper, substantially vertical bearing portion and a lower, arcuate cutter portion, the sides of said cutter portion converging downwardly and terminatin in a sharpened point, the said sharpened point of said cutter portion being directed outwardly and substantially tangent to a horizontal plane which is parallel with said base plate, and a downwardly depending secondary cutter blade disposed inwardly from but adjacent the opposite end of said base plate.

9. A can opening device for canned beverages, comprising a base member, a downwardly depending, inwardly turned, hooked member adapted to embrace a can rim bead, said hook member being disposed at one end of said base member and being in substantial prolongation thereof, a downwardly depending cutter blade disposed opposite said hook member yet spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent the same end of said base member, said cutter blade comprising an upper bearing portion which is substantially perpendicular to said base member and a lower arcuate cutter portion, the sides of said cutter portion converging downwardly and terminating in a sharpened point, the said sharpened point of said cutter portion being directed outwardly and substantially tangent to a plane which is parallel to said base member.

10. A can opening device for canned beverages, comprising a base member, a downwardly depending, inwardly turned, hook member adapted to embrace a can rim bead, said hook member be ing disposed at one end of said base member and being in substantial prolongation thereof, a downwardly depending cutter blade disposed opposite said hook member yet spaced therefrom and disposed adjacent the same end of said base member, said cutter blade comprising an upper bearing portion which is perpendicular to said base member and a lower arcuate cutter portion, the sides of said cutter portion converging downwardly and terminating in a sharpened point, the said sharpened point of said cutter portion being directed outwardly and substantially tangent to a plane which is parallel to said base member, and a downwardly depending secondary cutter blade disposed inwardly from but adjacent the opposite end of said base member.

11. A can opening device for canned beverages comprising a generally rectangular bas member, a downwardly depending, inwardly turned hook member disposed at one end of said base member, the uppermost part of said hook member being in substantial prolongation of said base member and the lowermost part of said hook member bein substantially parallel to said uppermost part thereof, a downwardly depending cutter blade member disposed adjacent said hook member, said cutter blade member having an upper bearing portion which is substantially perpendicular to the under surface of said base member and substantially perpendicular to the lowermost part of said hook member and is spaced therefrom to define therewith a recess adapted to accommodate a can bead, said cutter blade member having a lower arcuate cutter portion, the sides of said cutter portion converging downwardly and terminating in a sharpened point, the said sharpened point being directed outwardly and substantially tangent to a plane which is parallel to said base member.

CARL GUTEKUNST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,767,504 Bemelmans June 24, 1930 2,195,253 Meier Mar. 26, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 134,235 Austria July 25, 1933 317,488 Great Britain Aug. 16, 1929 

